U.S. patent number 10,191,621 [Application Number 15/142,327] was granted by the patent office on 2019-01-29 for exposing populated lists of personalized strings.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC. The grantee listed for this patent is Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC. Invention is credited to Ana Isabel A. N. Ribeiro Alberts, Andrew Stuart Glass, Jan-Kristian Markiewicz, Mark Rodger Rideout.
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United States Patent |
10,191,621 |
Rideout , et al. |
January 29, 2019 |
Exposing populated lists of personalized strings
Abstract
Presenting a list of personalized strings to a user in response
to the user's interaction with a single key of a keyboard.
Interaction of a user with a single key of a keyboard is detected.
Responsive to detecting the user interaction at the single keyboard
key, a string type associated with the user interaction is
identified. One or more personalized strings that are associated
with the user and that are of the identified string type are also
identified. A list of strings with the one or more personalized
strings of the string type associated with the user interaction is
then populated. The populated list of strings is then presented,
wherein each string of the list of strings comprises a
user-selectable element.
Inventors: |
Rideout; Mark Rodger (Redmond,
WA), Alberts; Ana Isabel A. N. Ribeiro (Borehamwood,
GB), Glass; Andrew Stuart (Seattle, WA),
Markiewicz; Jan-Kristian (Redmond, WA) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC |
Redmond |
WA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Microsoft Technology Licensing,
LLC (Redmond, WA)
|
Family
ID: |
58670298 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/142,327 |
Filed: |
April 29, 2016 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20170315679 A1 |
Nov 2, 2017 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F
3/0482 (20130101); G06F 3/04886 (20130101); G06F
40/174 (20200101); G06F 40/274 (20200101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06F
3/0482 (20130101); G06F 3/0488 (20130101); G06F
17/27 (20060101); G06F 17/24 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Other References
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1-2. cited by applicant .
"International Search Report and the Written Opinion Issued in PCT
Application No. PCT/US2017/029228", dated Jul. 26, 2017. cited by
applicant .
"MIT App Inventor", Published on: Aug. 15, 2012 Available at:
http://appinventor.mit.edu/explore/content/social.html#EmailPicker.
cited by applicant .
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Available at:
http://www.yourtechtamer.com/blog/2011/08/can-you-create-a-shortcut-t-
o-auto-paste-your-email-address-onto-the-clipboard/. cited by
applicant .
"Mozilla support: Thunderbird", Published on: Sep. 2, 2014
Available at:
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/addressing-email#thunderbird:win7;tb-
38. cited by applicant .
Broida, Rick, "PCWorld: Create a Keyboard Shortcut to Insert Your
E-Mail Address", Published on: Dec. 14, 2012 Available at:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/238709/create_a_keyboard_shortcut_to_inser-
t_your_e_mail_address.html. cited by applicant .
Horowitz, Paul, "OSXDaily: Create a Shortcut for Typing eMail
Address Quickly in iOS", Published on; Aug. 4, 2012 Available at:
http://osxdaily.com/2012/08/04/create-shortcut-for-typing-email-address-i-
os/. cited by applicant .
Pearson, William, "OSXDaily: Set a Shortcut to Type an Email
Address Instantly in Mac OS X with Text Expansion", Published on:
Aug. 15, 2012 Available at:
http://osxdaily.com/2012/08/15/email-address-type-shortcut-mac-os-x-text--
expansion/. cited by applicant .
Wyatt, Allen, "WordTIPS", Published on: Apr. 19, 2011 Available at:
http://word.tips.net/T006765_Inserting_Text_with_a_Shortcut_Key.html.
cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: To; Jennifer N
Assistant Examiner: Fortino; Ashley M
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Workman Nydegger
Claims
What is claimed:
1. A computer system, comprising: one or more processors; and one
or more computer readable storage media having stored thereon
computer-executable instructions that are executable by the one or
more processors to cause the computer system to control how primary
and alternative character keys of a touchscreen keyboard layout are
used to present a populated list of character strings that are
contextually relevant and personalized for a user entering text
with the keyboard, and in a manner that reduces having to
frequently toggle between the primary and secondary character keys
of the keyboard, and wherein the computer system performs at least
the following: determines a character key to serve as a list
population key, wherein the determination of the list population
key is made from among the character keys of a touchscreen keyboard
comprising a primary keyboard layout and an alternative keyboard
layout, and wherein the list population key is determined from a
context that identifies a given string type from a corresponding
type of input text; detects interaction of a user with one or more
character keys of the keyboard, wherein the interaction indicates a
type of input text for the given string type; responsive to
detecting the user interaction at the keyboard, performs at least
the following: identifies the given string type associated with the
user interaction; identifies one or more personalized strings that
are associated with the user and that are of the identified string
type; populates a list of strings with the one or more personalized
strings of the string type associated with the user interaction,
and associates the populated list with the determined list
population key; and if the determined list population key is among
the character keys of the alternative keyboard layout, at least
temporarily places the determined list population key with the
character keys of the primary keyboard layout; and using the list
population key at the primary keyboard layout, presents the
populated list of strings to the user for selection using the list
population key at the primary keyboard layout so that the user is
not required to toggle to the secondary keyboard layout to access
the list population key while entering text.
2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the user is informed by
the computer system of the determined list population key by
performing one of animating the list population key, highlighting
the list population key, displaying a hint, and displaying a
prompt.
3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the context that
identifies a given string type from a corresponding type of input
text comprises identifying one or more email addresses when
inputting text using an email address field.
4. The computer system of claim 3, wherein the one or more email
addresses are used to populate the list of strings which comprise
the one or more personalized strings of the string type that are
associated with the user, and wherein the populated list of strings
is based on at least one of (i) one or more frequently used email
addresses, (ii) one or more recently used email addresses, (iii)
one or more email addresses of one or more second users having an
account associated with an account of the user, and (iv) one or
more user-defined email addresses.
5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein identifying one or more
personalized strings that are associated with the user and that are
of the identified string type is based on gathering data from an
account of the user.
6. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the identified string
type comprises an email address type.
7. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the identified string
type comprises a phone number type.
8. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the list population key
is an @ key.
9. The computer system of claim 1, wherein associating the
populated list with the determined list population key comprises
having the list population key automatically selected by the
computer system.
10. The computer system of claim 1, wherein associating the
populated list with the determined list population key comprises
having the list population key manually selected by the user.
11. A computer-implemented method for controlling how primary and
alternative character keys of a touchscreen keyboard layout are
used to present a populated list of character strings that are
contextually relevant and personalized for a user entering text
with the keyboard, and in a manner that reduces having to
frequently toggle between the primary and secondary character keys
of the keyboard comprising: determining a character key to serve as
a list population key, wherein the determination of the list
population key is made from among the character keys of a
touchscreen keyboard comprising a primary keyboard layout and an
alternative keyboard layout, and wherein the list population key is
determined from a context that identifies a given string type from
a corresponding type of input text; detecting interaction of a user
with one or more character keys of the keyboard, wherein the
interaction indicates a type of input text for the given string
type; responsive to detecting the user interaction at the keyboard,
performing at least the following: identifying the given string
type associated with the user interaction; identifying one or more
personalized strings that are associated with the user and that are
of the identified string type; populating a list of strings with
the one or more personalized strings of the string type associated
with the user interaction, and associating the populated list with
the determined list population key; and if the determined list
population key is among the character keys of the alternative
keyboard layout, at least temporarily placing the determined list
population key with the character keys of the primary keyboard
layout; and using the list population key at the primary keyboard
layout, presenting the populated list of strings to the user for
selection using the list population key at the primary keyboard
layout so that the user is not required to toggle to the secondary
keyboard layout to access the list population key while entering
text.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the identified string type
comprises one of an email address type and a phone number type.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the user is informed of the
determined list population key.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein informing the user comprises at
least one of animating the list population key, highlighting the
list population key, displaying a hint, and displaying a
prompt.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein associating the populated list
with the determined list population key comprises having the list
population key automatically selected by the computer system.
16. The method of claim 11, wherein the context that identifies a
given string type from a corresponding type of input text comprises
identifying one or more email addresses when inputting text using
an email address field.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more email addresses
are used to populate the list of strings which comprise the one or
more personalized strings of the string type that are associated
with the user, and wherein the populated list of strings is based
on at least one of (i) one or more frequently used email addresses,
(ii) one or more recently used email addresses, (iii) one or more
email addresses of one or more second users having an account
associated with an account of the user, and (iv) one or more
user-defined email addresses.
18. The method of claim 11, wherein associating the populated list
with the determined list population key comprises having the list
population key manually selected by the user.
19. The method of claim 11, wherein identifying the one or more
personalized strings that are associated with the user and that are
of the identified string type is based on gathering data from an
account of the user.
20. One or more hardware storage devices having stored thereon
computer-executable instructions that are executable by one or more
processors to, the computer-executable instructions causing the
computing device to execute a computer-implemented method of
controlling how primary and alternative character keys of a
touchscreen keyboard layout are used to present a populated list of
character strings that are contextually relevant and personalized
for a user entering text with the keyboard, and in a manner that
reduces having to frequently toggle between the primary and
secondary character keys of the keyboard, and wherein the computing
device performs at least the following when executing the
computer-implemented method: determines a character key to serve as
a list population key, wherein the determination of the list
population key is made from among the character keys of a
touchscreen keyboard comprising a primary keyboard layout and an
alternative keyboard layout, and wherein the list population key is
determined from a context that identifies a given string type from
a corresponding type of input text; detects interaction of a user
with one or more character keys of the keyboard, wherein the
interaction indicates a type of input text for the given string
type; responsive to detecting the user interaction at the keyboard,
performs at least the following: identifies the given string type
associated with the user interaction; identifies one or more
personalized strings that are associated with the user and that are
of the identified string type; populates a list of strings with the
one or more personalized strings of the string type associated with
the user interaction, and associates the populated list with the
determined list population key; and if the determined list
population key is among the character keys of the alternative
keyboard layout, at least temporarily places the determined list
population key with the character keys of the primary keyboard
layout; and using the list population key at the primary keyboard
layout, presents the populated list of strings to the user for
selection using the list population key at the primary keyboard
layout so that the user is not required to toggle to the secondary
keyboard layout to access the list population key while entering
text.
Description
BACKGROUND
Computer systems and related technology affect many aspects of
society. Indeed, the computer system's ability to process
information has transformed the way we live and work. Computer
systems now commonly perform a host of tasks (e.g., word
processing, scheduling, accounting, etc.) that prior to the advent
of the computer system were performed manually. More recently, a
large portion of computer systems have taken the shape of
relatively small mobile devices having touchscreen displays.
While these mobile devices may be smaller than previous computer
systems, oftentimes they still include high levels of processing
power. Accordingly, mobile devices are now capable of performing
various computing tasks that previously required much larger
computer systems. As such, for many of these tasks to be completed
on a mobile device, a user must use a touchscreen keyboard as the
primary means of input. While touchscreen keyboards are convenient
in many ways, alternative characters and complex strings can often
be difficult and time-consuming for a user to input.
The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments
that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments
such as those described above. Rather, this background is only
provided to illustrate one exemplary technology area where some
embodiments described herein may be practiced.
BRIEF SUMMARY
At least some embodiments described herein relate to presenting a
list of personalized strings to a user in response to the user's
interaction with a single key of a keyboard. For example, in some
embodiments, interaction of a user with a single key of a keyboard
may be detected. Responsive to detecting the user interaction at
the single keyboard key, a string type associated with the user
interaction is identified. One or more personalized strings that
are associated with the user and that are of the identified string
type are also identified. A list of strings with the one or more
personalized strings of the string type associated with the user
interaction is then populated. The populated list of strings is
then presented, wherein each string of the list of strings
comprises a user-selectable element.
Presenting such a list of personalized strings may allow a user to
input information on a keyboard quickly and efficiently. For
instance, a user may be able to input an email address or other
string that includes infrequently used characters such as `@` and
"_" on a touchscreen keyboard, without requiring the user to switch
to an alternative keyboard layout multiple times.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a
simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed
Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features
or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it
intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the
claimed subject matter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and
other advantages and features of the invention can be obtained, a
more particular description of the invention briefly described
above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof
which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that
these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and
are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the
invention will be described and explained with additional
specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings
in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates an example computer system in which some
embodiments described herein may be employed.
FIG. 2A illustrates an example primary keyboard layout.
FIG. 2B illustrates an example alternative keyboard layout.
FIG. 3 illustrates an example list population key and associated
list within a keyboard layout.
FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart of an example method for presenting
a list of personalized strings to a user.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
At least some embodiments described herein relate to presenting a
list of personalized strings to a user in response to the user's
interaction with a single key of a keyboard. For example, in some
embodiments, interaction of a user with a single key of a keyboard
may be detected. Responsive to detecting the user interaction at
the single keyboard key, a string type associated with the user
interaction is identified. One or more personalized strings that
are associated with the user and that are of the identified string
type are also identified. A list of strings with the one or more
personalized strings of the string type associated with the user
interaction is then populated. The populated list of strings is
then presented, wherein each string of the list of strings
comprises a user-selectable element.
Presenting such a list of personalized strings may allow a user to
input information on a keyboard quickly and efficiently. For
instance, a user may be able to input an email address or other
string that includes infrequently used characters such as `@` and
`_` on a touchscreen keyboard, without requiring the user to switch
to an alternative keyboard layout multiple times.
Because the principles described herein operate in the context of a
computing system, a computing system will first be described as an
enabling technology for the principles described herein.
Thereafter, further details regarding the population of lists of
personalized and contextual strings will be described with respect
to FIGS. 2 through 4.
Computing systems are now increasingly taking a wide variety of
forms. Computing systems may, for example, be handheld devices,
appliances, laptop computers, desktop computers, mainframes,
distributed computing systems, datacenters, or even devices that
have not conventionally been considered a computing system, such as
wearables (e.g., glasses, watches, bands, and so forth). In this
description and in the claims, the term "computing system" is
defined broadly as including any device or system (or combination
thereof) that includes at least one physical and tangible
processor, and a physical and tangible memory capable of having
thereon computer-executable instructions that may be executed by a
processor. The memory may take any form and may depend on the
nature and form of the computing system. A computing system may be
distributed over a network environment and may include multiple
constituent computing systems.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, in its most basic configuration, a
computing system 100 typically includes at least one hardware
processing unit 102 and memory 104. The memory 104 may be physical
system memory, which may be volatile, non-volatile, or some
combination of the two. The term "memory" may also be used herein
to refer to non-volatile mass storage such as physical storage
media. If the computing system is distributed, the processing,
memory and/or storage capability may be distributed as well.
Each of the depicted computer systems is connected to one another
over (or is part of) a network, such as, for example, a Local Area
Network ("LAN"), a Wide Area Network ("WAN"), and even the
Internet. Accordingly, each of the depicted computer systems as
well as any other connected computer systems and their components,
can create message related data and exchange message related data
(e.g., Internet Protocol ("IP") datagrams and other higher layer
protocols that utilize IP datagrams, such as, Transmission Control
Protocol ("TCP"), Hypertext Transfer Protocol ("HTTP"), Simple Mail
Transfer Protocol ("SMTP"), etc.) over the network.
The computing system 100 has thereon multiple structures often
referred to as an "executable component". For instance, the memory
104 of the computing system 100 is illustrated as including
executable component 106. The term "executable component" is the
name for a structure that is well understood to one of ordinary
skill in the art in the field of computing as being a structure
that can be software, hardware, or a combination thereof. For
instance, when implemented in software, one of ordinary skill in
the art would understand that the structure of an executable
component may include software objects, routines, methods that may
be executed on the computing system, whether such an executable
component exists in the heap of a computing system, or whether the
executable component exists on computer-readable storage media.
In such a case, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize
that the structure of the executable component exists on a
computer-readable medium such that, when interpreted by one or more
processors of a computing system (e.g., by a processor thread), the
computing system is caused to perform a function. Such structure
may be computer-readable directly by the processors (as is the case
if the executable component were binary). Alternatively, the
structure may be structured to be interpretable and/or compiled
(whether in a single stage or in multiple stages) so as to generate
such binary that is directly interpretable by the processors. Such
an understanding of example structures of an executable component
is well within the understanding of one of ordinary skill in the
art of computing when using the term "executable component".
The term "executable component" is also well understood by one of
ordinary skill as including structures that are implemented
exclusively or near-exclusively in hardware, such as within a field
programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated
circuit (ASIC), or any other specialized circuit. Accordingly, the
term "executable component" is a term for a structure that is well
understood by those of ordinary skill in the art of computing,
whether implemented in software, hardware, or a combination. In
this description, the terms "component", "service", "engine",
"module", "controller", "validator", "runner", "deployer" or the
like, may also be used. As used in this description and in the
case, these terms (regardless of whether the term is modified with
one or more modifiers) are also intended to be synonymous with the
term "executable component" or be specific types of such an
"executable component", and thus also have a structure that is well
understood by those of ordinary skill in the art of computing.
In the description that follows, embodiments are described with
reference to acts that are performed by one or more computing
systems. If such acts are implemented in software, one or more
processors (of the associated computing system that performs the
act) direct the operation of the computing system in response to
having executed computer-executable instructions that constitute an
executable component. For example, such computer-executable
instructions may be embodied on one or more computer-readable media
that form a computer program product. An example of such an
operation involves the manipulation of data.
The computer-executable instructions (and the manipulated data) may
be stored in the memory 104 of the computing system 100. Computing
system 100 may also contain communication channels 108 that allow
the computing system 100 to communicate with other computing
systems over, for example, network 110.
While not all computing systems require a user interface, in some
embodiments, the computing system 100 includes a user interface 112
for use in interfacing with a user. The user interface 112 may
include output mechanisms 112A as well as input mechanisms 112B.
The principles described herein are not limited to the precise
output mechanisms 112A or input mechanisms 112B as such will depend
on the nature of the device. However, output mechanisms 112A might
include, for instance, speakers, displays, tactile output,
holograms, virtual reality, and so forth. Examples of input
mechanisms 112B might include, for instance, microphones,
touchscreens, holograms, cameras, keyboards, mouse of other pointer
input, sensors of any type, and so forth. In accordance with the
principles describe herein, alerts (whether visual, audible and/or
tactile) may be presented via the output mechanism 112A.
Embodiments described herein may comprise or utilize a special
purpose or general-purpose computing system including computer
hardware, such as, for example, one or more processors and system
memory, as discussed in greater detail below. Embodiments described
herein also include physical and other computer-readable media for
carrying or storing computer-executable instructions and/or data
structures. Such computer-readable media can be any available media
that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose
computing system. Computer-readable media that store
computer-executable instructions are physical storage media.
Computer-readable media that carry computer-executable instructions
are transmission media. Thus, by way of example, and not
limitation, embodiments can comprise at least two distinctly
different kinds of computer-readable media: storage media and
transmission media.
Computer-readable storage media includes RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM
or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other
magnetic storage devices, or any other physical and tangible
storage medium which can be used to store desired program code
means in the form of computer-executable instructions or data
structures and which can be accessed by a general purpose or
special purpose computing system.
A "network" is defined as one or more data links that enable the
transport of electronic data between computing systems and/or
modules and/or other electronic devices. When information is
transferred or provided over a network or another communications
connection (either hardwired, wireless, or a combination of
hardwired or wireless) to a computing system, the computing system
properly views the connection as a transmission medium.
Transmissions media can include a network and/or data links which
can be used to carry desired program code means in the form of
computer-executable instructions or data structures and which can
be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computing
system. Combinations of the above should also be included within
the scope of computer-readable media.
Further, upon reaching various computing system components, program
code means in the form of computer-executable instructions or data
structures can be transferred automatically from transmission media
to storage media (or vice versa). For example, computer-executable
instructions or data structures received over a network or data
link can be buffered in RAM within a network interface module
(e.g., a "NIC"), and then eventually transferred to computing
system RAM and/or to less volatile storage media at a computing
system. Thus, it should be understood that readable media can be
included in computing system components that also (or even
primarily) utilize transmission media.
Computer-executable instructions comprise, for example,
instructions and data which, when executed at a processor, cause a
general purpose computing system, special purpose computing system,
or special purpose processing device to perform a certain function
or group of functions. Alternatively, or in addition, the
computer-executable instructions may configure the computing system
to perform a certain function or group of functions. The computer
executable instructions may be, for example, binaries or even
instructions that undergo some translation (such as compilation)
before direct execution by the processors, such as intermediate
format instructions such as assembly language, or even source
code.
Although the subject matter has been described in language specific
to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be
understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims
is not necessarily limited to the described features or acts
described herein. Rather, the described features and acts are
disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention may be
practiced in network computing environments with many types of
computing system configurations, including, personal computers,
desktop computers, laptop computers, message processors, hand-held
devices, multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based or
programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers,
mainframe computers, mobile telephones, PDAs, pagers, routers,
switches, datacenters, wearables (such as glasses or watches) and
the like. The invention may also be practiced in distributed system
environments where local and remote computing systems, which are
linked (either by hardwired data links, wireless data links, or by
a combination of hardwired and wireless data links) through a
network, both perform tasks. In a distributed system environment,
program modules may be located in both local and remote memory
storage devices.
FIG. 2 illustrates an example touchscreen keyboard 200A that
includes a multiple character and function keys. As an example, the
touchscreen keyboard 200A might be displayed on one of the output
mechanisms 112A of the computing system 100 of FIG. 1. As used
herein, the terms touchscreen keyboard, virtual keyboard, and
software keyboard, are all used interchangeably. While many
different layouts and keys could be included in keyboard 200A, the
layout and keys shown are for example purposes only. Accordingly,
the principles described herein are not limited to any particular
keyboard layout or keyboard keys. Furthermore, while keyboard 200A
represents a touchscreen keyboard, the principles described herein
may equally apply to hardware keyboards and hardware keyboard
layouts.
Keyboard 200A includes alternative character key 210, which allows
a user of touchscreen keyboard 200 to toggle between the primary
layout demonstrated in FIG. 2A to an alternate keyboard layout
200B, as shown in FIG. 2B. As illustrated, alternative keyboard
layout 200B includes number keys (i.e., `1`, `2`, `3`, and so
forth), as well as other keys such as an `@` key, `_` key, `#` key,
`$` key, and so forth. While each of the previously discussed
alternative character keys is included in alternate keyboard layout
200B, any one or more of the alternative character keys may
alternatively be included in the primary keyboard layout 200A.
While keyboard layouts, such as those illustrated in FIGS. 2A and
2B, are typical, they can often be inconvenient for typing email
addresses, phone numbers, or any other string of characters that
requires a mixture of the primary characters (i.e., `a`, `b`, `c`,
`d`, and so forth) on the primary keyboard layout 200A and
alternative characters (i.e., `1`, `2`, `@`, `_`, `#`, `$`, and so
forth) on the alternative keyboard layout 200B. For instance, a
typical user may have an email address such as
23john_smith@fiction-email.com. Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, when
typing such an email address on a touchscreen keyboard, the user
must first toggle to the alternative keyboard layout 200B to type
`23`, then toggle to the primary keyboard layout 200A to type
`john`, then toggle to alternative keyboard layout 200B to type
`_`, then toggle to primary keyboard layout 200A to type `smith`,
then toggle back to alternative keyboard layout 200B to type `@`,
then toggle to the primary keyboard layout 200A to type "fiction,
then toggle to alternative keyboard layout 200B to type "-", and
finally toggle back to primary keyboard layout 200A to type
`email.com.` Such a process can often be time-consuming and
inefficient.
FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a keyboard 300 that can allow a
user to access strings of characters (e.g., email addresses, home
addresses, phone numbers, and so forth) through interaction with a
single keyboard key. Accordingly, keyboard 300 includes list
population key 310, which when interacted with by a user, may
dynamically populate list 320 with contextually relevant and
personalized character strings 320A, 320B, and 320C, as described
in more detail below. As shown, list 320 may overlay the primary
keyboard layout 200A. However, in other embodiments list 320 may be
presented in a window separate from the keyboard. Additionally, a
user may be able to customize the way in which list 320 is
presented.
While only three character strings (320A, 320B, and 320C) and one
list population key 310 are shown, there may be any number of
character strings within a list and/or any number of list
population keys with an associated list. Furthermore, each list
population key may have more than one associated list. For example,
list population key 310 may have two associated lists, one having
work email addresses and one having personal email addresses. List
population key 310 may be presented to a user within primary
keyboard layout 200A, alternative keyboard layout 200B, or
both.
The list population key 310 itself may be presented within keyboard
layout 200A when the computer system 100 detects that a user has
interacted with a field of a webpage or an application that expects
a string of characters as input. For instance, when a user
interacts with an email address field (i.e., a field expecting a
user to enter an email address) within a webpage/application, the
computer system may detect the interaction and present the list
population key 310. The user may then interact with the list
population key 310 in order to access a list 320 of personalized
and contextual strings (320A, 320B, and 320C), which in the present
example would comprise email addresses associated with the user.
For instance, the strings may be email addresses that have been
recently or frequently used by the user. The user may then select
one of the strings to be entered as input, which in the present
example would comprise the selection of an email address to be
entered as input within the email address field. Once selected, the
chosen email address would automatically be used to populate the
email address field.
In other embodiments, the list population key may also be presented
based on semantic recognition by the computer system. For instance,
a user may receive a text message or an email containing text that
includes a request for an email address, a phone number, a home
address, and so forth. The computer system may recognize such a
request and present list population key 310 with semantically
related strings that can be used as input. Accordingly, the list
320 associated with list population key 310 may include multiple
email address strings, phone number strings, home address strings,
and so forth, from which the user can choose. As such, the user may
be able to automatically input a selected string into a body of
text within an application (e.g., the body of an email, the body of
a text message, within a text editing application, and so
forth).
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the list population key comprises an `@`
key, however, the list population key is not limited to the `@` key
or any other specific key(s). In some embodiments, the specific
list population key(s) may be automatically selected by the
computer system 100 based on a context of the user's interaction
with the keyboard. For instance, if a user has selected an input
field for an email address, the computer system 100 may select the
`@` key as the list population key because the user would have to
enter the `@` key eventually in order to enter a complete email
address.
Likewise, in a circumstance involving a user selecting an input
field for a phone number, the computer system may select one of the
number keys (e.g., `1` key, `2` key, and so forth) or the `-` key
as the list population key. Furthermore, the computer system 100
may learn from a user's past interaction with the system to
determine the best list population key. For example, the computer
may learn that the user almost always uses the same area code for
all phone numbers and that phone number includes a `1`.
Accordingly, the computer system may choose `1` to be the list
population key in such a circumstance.
As noted previously, one or more of the specific list population
keys discussed herein (i.e., `@`, `1`, `-`, and so forth) may
generally reside on the alternative keyboard layout 200B and thus
be hidden from a user when the user is viewing the primary keyboard
layout 200A. Accordingly, any one or more of the alternative
character keys may be temporarily included in primary keyboard
layout 200A based on context. For instance, the `@` key may appear
on the primary keyboard 200A in anticipation of the user needing
the `@` key to enter a complete email address when the user has
interacted with the email address field of a webpage/application.
This may occur despite the `@` key not ordinarily appearing on the
primary keyboard 200A.
While the previous example is discussed specifically in regards to
the `@` key, any key(s) that the computer system 100 determines
that the user may need based on a context of the user's current
interaction with the computer system, can be placed at least
temporarily in the primary keyboard layout. For example, the
computer system 100 may determine that a user has interacted with a
phone number field that requires the use of a `-` key in order to
input a complete phone number. Accordingly, the computer system may
place the `-` key in the primary keyboard layout 200A, in such
circumstances.
The computer system may determine specific keys within keyboard
layout 200A, keyboard layout 200B, or both to be list population
key(s) 310, which determination may also be based on a context of a
user interaction. Furthermore, as briefly discussed, the computer
system may select more than one list population key 310. For
example, if a user is currently filling out a web form through a
webpage/application that requires an email address, phone number,
and a home address, the computer system may determine that there
should be three list population keys for each of the required
fields. As such, the user may determine that an `@` key will be the
list population key for the email address field, a `-` key will be
the list population key for the phone number field, and the first
letter of the state where the user resides will be the list
population key for the home address field. Accordingly, the
computer system may at least temporarily place the `@` key and the
`-` key in the primary keyboard layout 200A as list population
keys, despite those two keys generally being placed in the
alternative keyboard layout 200B.
As briefly described herein, in order to access the list(s) 320, a
user interacts with list population key 310. Such user interaction
may be of any type. For example, in regards to a touchscreen
keyboard, a user may press and hold the key, press and swipe any
direction on the key (i.e., left, right, up, or down), quickly
double tap the key, quickly triple tap the key, or any other
similar gesture in regards to the list population key 310. With
respect to hardware keyboards, a user may press and hold the key,
quickly double tap the key, quickly triple tap the key, or any
other similar interaction in regards to the list population key
310.
In some embodiments, the computer system may automatically
determine a default way in which a user is to interact with the
list population key 310. In such cases, the computer system may
also display a prompt to the user as to the way in which the user
must interact with the list population key in order to access list
320. In other embodiments, a user may be able to change the default
by determining what type of user interaction the user would like to
perform with respect to the list population key in order to access
the list. In other embodiments, a user may use alternative
interactions with a single keyboard key. For example, the user may
only have to look at a single keyboard key, say the name of a
single keyboard key, and so forth.
The character strings included in the list 320 may be any of a
number of types, including a home address, a phone number, flight
information, calendar information, appointment/meeting information,
personal information, and so forth. Furthermore, the string type
may be identified by the computer system 100 based on a context of
how the user is currently interacting with the system. For example,
if a user has selected an email address field on a
webpage/application, an email address string type may be selected.
Accordingly, a user in a similar scenario may be able to select
list population key 310 and be presented with a list of potential
email addresses (e.g., 320A, 320B, and 320C) to enter into the
email address field. In other embodiments, the string type may be
identified based on the list population key selected. For example,
an email address string type may be identified when a user
interacts with a list population key represented by the `@`
key.
Additionally, each of the presented character strings within list
320 may be user selectable elements, such that when a user selects
the element, an action occurs with respect to the selected element.
For instance, continuing with the previous example, if
me@fiction-email.com were selected by the user from within list
320, then the email address field that the user had previously
selected would be populated with the selected email address. In
other embodiments, selecting one of the email addresses from list
320 may result in a new email window addressed to the selected
email address being displayed, as discussed more fully below. In
yet other embodiments, selecting one of the email addresses from
list 320 may result in the email address being input as text within
a text message, email, or any other application that accepts text
as input.
List 320 may be dynamically populated by computer system 100 with
character strings based on context. For instance, a user that has
selected a field within any type of webpage or application that
expects an email address, home address, phone number, flight
information, calendar information, appointment/meeting information,
personal information, and so forth may be presented with a list of
strings of a string type relating to the information expected by
the field when the user interacts with the list population key 310
in one of the determined manners described herein.
Once context for the particular string type has been determined,
the computer system 100 may identify specific, personalized strings
associated with both the determined context and the user, with
which to populate the list 320. For instance, the computer system
may identify strings associated with the determined context that
have been most frequently used by the user or most recently used by
the user. In a more specific example, a user interacting with an
email address field may be presented with a list 320 of the user's
most frequently used, and most recently used, email addresses.
In other embodiments, the computer system 100 may identify various
relationships of the user with other users based on an account of
the user. For example, a user may have a social media account, an
email account, or any other account (e.g., MICROSOFT.TM. account,
GOOGLE.TM. account, APPLE.RTM. ICLOUD.RTM. account, and so forth)
that identifies other users that have a relationship with the user
(e.g., friend, mother, father, sibling, child, and so forth). Based
on those relationships, the computer system may identify
information (e.g., email address, phone number, home address,
flight itinerary, calendar information, and so forth) about those
with whom the user has a relationship. The computer system may then
use that identified information to populate list 320 with strings
personalized for the user. Similarly, the computer system may
determine email groups of which the user is a member (e.g., family
email group, co-worker email group, and so forth) and identify
information (e.g., email addresses, phone numbers, home addresses,
and so forth) associated with the email groups. The computer system
may also identify information based on a web browser's
auto-complete functionality. For instance, the computer system may
identify all email addresses that the web browser is capable of
auto-completing.
Furthermore, the computer system 100 may gather data from the
user's own accounts to populate list 320 with personalized strings.
For example, the computer system may identify a birthday, home
address, telephone number, email address, and so forth associated
with an account of the user. That identified information may then
be used to populate list 320 when the identified information has
become relevant based on the context of the user's interaction with
the computer system, as described herein. For example, when a user
interacts with a home address field in a webpage/application, the
computer system may identify all addresses associated with the
user's account and use the addresses to populate list 320.
In some embodiments, a user interface may be accessed by a user
that allows the user to manually determine which specific strings
the user would like to have presented. This may include allowing
the user to specify which strings to present in particular
circumstances, such as time of day, type of application, type of
user input field, and so forth. For example, a user may specify one
or more particular email addresses to be placed in list 320
whenever the user interacts with an email address field of a
webpage or application. Furthermore, a user may be able to both
manually edit which specific strings the user would like to have
presented in particular circumstances, as well as editing
particular strings themselves. For example, if a particular email
address of a desired recipient has changed, the user may be able to
manually edit the particular email address to reflect the correct
email address.
In other embodiments, a combination of strings manually determined
by a user and computer-identified strings may be used to populate
list 320. For example, a user may make a determination that two
user-identified email addresses are always to be presented when
email addresses are contextually relevant and that the rest of the
email addresses should be provided by the computer system in any of
the manners described herein (e.g., recently used, frequently used,
relationship information, and so forth).
In another example, a user may specify that particular personal
email addresses are to be presented in list 320 when the user is
using a personal email application and that particular work email
addresses are to be presented in list 320 when the user is using a
work email application. In such circumstances, the computer system
may identify which email addresses are personal and which email
addresses are work-related. Alternatively, the user may be able to
manually identify particular email addresses as personal email
addresses or work email addresses. In another example, a user may
specify that during regular business hours, work email addresses,
work phone numbers, and so forth are to be presented in list 320,
while during hours outside of regular business hours, personal
email addresses, personal phone numbers, and so forth are to be
presented in list 320.
Alternatively, the computer system 100 may dynamically determine
such context. For example, the computer system may determine that
the user generally selects work email addresses, work phone
numbers, and so forth during regular business hours and that the
user generally selects personal email addresses, personal phone
numbers, and so forth during all other times. Accordingly, the
computer system may dynamically populate list 320 with personalized
strings according to time of day, the type of application used,
type of user input field, and so forth based on how the user has
interacted with presented lists in the past.
In some embodiments, a user may be able to not only manually
identify which strings to include in a list, but also which strings
should not be included. This may be particularly useful when the
computer system alone has dynamically populated list 320 with
personalized strings of the user (i.e., rather than the user having
manually modified all or part of the strings included within the
populated list). For instance, a user may manually identify one or
more email addresses automatically used by the computer system to
populate list 320 that the user would not like to be included in
the populated list. Furthermore, the user may be able specify which
strings to use (or not to use) based on a variety of factors,
including time of day, particular app used, a location of the user,
and so forth.
Additionally, a user may have control over how many lists are
presented for any given list population key. For instance, the user
may determine that the user would like to have four lists each time
a list population key associated with email addresses is presented.
In such a case, the user may determine that the four lists are a
frequently used email list, a recently used email list, a work
email list, and a personal email list, despite the four lists
likely having some overlap. It should be noted, however, that while
four lists are discussed in relation to the example above, a user
may decide to have any number of lists associated with a list
population key.
Oftentimes users may need to be informed of the existence of the
list population key 310. Informing the user can be done in any of a
number of ways. For example, the specific list population key(s)
may be highlighted (e.g., brighter than other keys, different color
than other keys, having an outline in a different color) animated
(e.g., bouncing, spinning, shaking, peeling up the edge of the
key), a badge may be placed on the key(s), a hint may be displayed,
a prompt informing the user may be displayed, and so forth.
In some embodiments, informing the user of the existence of the
list population key in any of ways discussed herein may happen only
until the user has successfully used the list population key. In
other embodiments, the user may be informed each time the list
population key is available. In yet other embodiments, the user may
be able to manually determine when they would like to be prompted.
For example, a user may manually determine that the user would only
like to be informed of the existence of the list population key(s)
in particular applications/webpages, when particular input fields
are presented, when specific list population keys have been
selected by the computer system that have never been presented to
the user before, and so forth.
FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart of an example method 400 for
presenting a list of personalized strings to a user in response to
the user's interaction with a key of a keyboard. Method 400 will be
described with respect to the components of computer system 100, as
well as the keyboard layouts in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 3. Additionally,
the method 400 will be described in relation to a specific example.
In the example, a user interacts with an email address input field
in a webpage/application. The computer system may detect that the
user interacted with the email address input field and in response,
the computer system may inform the user of list population key 310.
As described herein, the computer system may inform the user of the
list population key in various ways, including animating the key,
highlighting the key, displaying a hint, displaying a prompt, and
so forth.
Additionally, the computer system may determine the specific key to
use as the list population key based on a context of the user's
interaction. In this example, the context of the user's interaction
comprises an interaction with the email address field of the
webpage/application. As such, the computer system 100 may select
the `@` key as the list population key because the user would have
to use the `@` key in order to input a complete email address.
Once the user has been informed of the existence of the list
population key, the user may interact with the list population key.
Such interactions may be detected by the computer system as being
an interaction with the single list population keyboard key (Act
410). In response to detecting the user interaction at the single
keyboard key, the computer system may perform a series of acts.
First, the computer system may identify a string type associated
with the user interaction (Act 420). Because the user interacted
with both the email address input field and the list population key
(the `@` key in this example), the computer system may identify the
string type as being an email address type based off of either
interaction. Accordingly, the computer system may base the string
type off of any user interaction (e.g., with a webpage/application
field, with a list population key, and so forth) or any combination
of user interactions.
Once the string type has been identified, the computer system may
identify one or more personalized strings that are associated with
the user and that are of the identified string type (Act 430). In
the present example, the computer system may identify email
addresses that have been recently, or frequently, used by the user.
The computer system may also be able to identify email addresses of
any users that have a relationship (e.g., friends or family) with
the user based on an account of the user, as well as the accounts
of those with whom the user has a relationship.
Furthermore, the computer system may allow the user to manually
identify email addresses that the user would like to have presented
in a particular situation such as this, or in any situation
relating to email addresses. For instance, the user may manually
identify the email address(es) with which the user would like to be
presented in relation to particular applications, particular types
of email address input fields (e.g., email address input field of a
new email window, email address input field of a
webpage/application), particular times of day, and so forth.
Alternatively, the user may manually identify the email address(es)
with which the user would like to be presented in all circumstances
relating to email address input fields.
The computer system may then populate a list of strings with the
one or more personalized strings of the string type associated with
the user interaction (Act 440). In the present example, the
computer system may populate the list with types of emails
described above in Act 430 (i.e., most frequently used email
addresses, most recently used email addresses, and so forth).
Once the list of strings has been populated, the computer system
may present the populated list of strings, as illustrated by list
320 in FIG. 3 (Act 450). It should be noted that each string of the
list of strings may comprise a user-selectable element, such that
the user can perform one or more actions by selecting one or more
of the user-selectable element strings. In the present example, by
selecting a string, the user may be able to have the computer
system automatically input the selected string (i.e., an email
address) into the email address input field. In other embodiments,
the user may be able to automatically open a new email window
addressed to the selected email address. In yet other embodiments,
the user may be able to automatically input the selected string
into a body of text within an application (e.g., the body of an
email, the body of a text message, within a text editing
application, and so forth).
In this way, a user using a touchscreen keyboard may, in particular
cases, avoid having to toggle back-and-forth between a primary
keyboard layout and alternate keyboard layout, thus allowing the
user to input personalized strings of a string type that are
associated with a context of the user's interaction with the
keyboard/computer system. Accordingly, a user may be able to
quickly and efficiently select strings of interest that are both
unique to the particular user (i.e., personalized) and useful for
the particular situation (i.e., contextual) through the use of a
single list population key presented within the layout of a
keyboard.
Although the subject matter has been described in language specific
to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be
understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims
is not necessarily limited to the described features or acts
described above, or the order of the acts described above. Rather,
the described features and acts are disclosed as example forms of
implementing the claims.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms
without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The
described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as
illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is,
therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the
foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning
and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within
their scope.
* * * * *
References